Receptacle filler and capper having receptacle carrier and capper indexing means



Aug. 25, 1953 'r. H. KUMMER ETAL 2,650,012

RECEPTACLE FILLER AND CAPPER HAVING RECEPTACLE CARRIER AND CAPPERINDEXING MEANS Filed 001:. 21, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS: fhcodowefl jfiummer jgyma/m ZTBoaendoergfer Aug. 25, 1953 T. H. KUMMER ETAL2,650,012

RECEPTACLE FILLER AND CAPPER HAVING RECEETACLE v CARRIER AND CAPPERINDEXING MEANS Flled Oct. 21, 1947 v 5 Sheets-Shee'LZ W-Z /W Aug. 25,1953 'r. H. KUMMER ETAL 2,650,012

RECEPTACLE FILLER AND CAPPER HAVING RECEPTACL CARRIER AND CAPPER.INDEXING MEANS Filed Oct. 21, 1947 5 shfiefbfi sheet 4 IN VEN TORS 3Theodore H fifia-mmer Jfgymorzd EBoderzdoexfer A118. 5, 1953 T. H.KUMMER ET AL 2,650,012

RECEPTACLE FILLER AND CAPPER HAVING RECEPTACLE CARRIER AND CAPPERINDEXING MEANS FiIedOct; 21, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 26 r r Hp 39 W vINVENTORS: Theodore 17. 27511172772 67'' F gymorzdZfBoderzdaerferPatented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BECEPTACLE FILLER ANDCAPPER HAVING RECEPTACLE CARRIER AND CAPPER IN- DEICING MEAN S'Application October 21, 1947, Serial No. 781,060

This invention relates to receptacle fillers and cappers. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to manually operable receptaclefillers and cappers.

The objects of this invention include the provision of a manuallyoperable receptacle filler and capper, provided with automatic indexerswherebyto secure the proper alignment between the receptacles to befilled and the filling heads of the filler, as well as to secure theproper alignment between the receptacles to be capped and the cappinghead.

It is common practice in the conventional type of manually operablereceptacle fillers and cappers of the type contemplated by thisinvention, for the operator to align the receptacles to be filled withthe receptacle filling valves or to align the receptacle to be cappedwith the capping head immediately prior to the filling or cappingoperation. This is particularly true in such instances in which thedevice is provided with a single capping head, which may be moved fromone receptacle to another during the completion of the cappingoperations.

The objects of this invention, therefore, include the provision of animproved, manually operable receptacle filler and capper; in which a setof a plurality of receptacles may be received and presented insuccessive order to a corresponding set of filling heads and at the sametime to place the previously filled receptacles in capping position; inwhich the receptacle support is provided with bottle centering guides toproperly center the bottles on the receptacle support in alignment withthe filling heads and the zone of movement of the receptacle capper; inwhich all of the receptacles on the receptacle support table may besimultaneously manipulated, either rotatively or vertically, to be thusplaced in proper position for filling or capping; in which indexingmeans are provided in association with the filling table on which thereceptacles are properly centered and also in association with thecapping head to properly align the receptacles with the filling headsand with the zone of movement of the receptacle capper; in which thereceptacle support is provided with a plurality of sets of receptaclestations; in which the receptacle support is manually operable; in whichthe means for vertically actuating the receptacle support is manuallyoperable; in which the receptacle support may be adjusted to compensatefor the difference and height of difierent receptacles; and in which themeans for vertically actuating the receptacle 6 Claims. (01. 226-75)support is automatically locked in either the uppermost or lowermostposition of the receptacle support.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention willbecome more apparent and will be more readily understood when consideredin connection with the drawings of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, which, without desire of limitation, will bedescribed and illustrated as an improved type of apparatus for fillingand capping milk bottles.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved receptacle filling andcapping apparatus.

Figure 2 is plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a side, elevational view thereof.

Figure 4 is a front, elevational view thereof, from which the base hasbeen omitted.

Figure 5 is a sectional View, taken along line 5-'5 of Figure 4 of thedrawings.

Figure 6 is a sectional view, taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 3 ofthe drawings.

Figure 7 is a view taken along line 1'! of Figure 3 of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals are used to identifylike elements, the applicants invention in an improved bottle receptaclefiller and capper contemplates the use of a base I, open at the top andbottom thereof. Base l is provided toward the rear portion thereof withtwo upwardly extending tank supporting legs 2, which are securely fixedat their lower ends, as by welding, to the base I, and securely fixed attheir upper ends, as by welding, to the base plate 3 of the filler tank4. A bottle turntable support leg 5 is pivoted in a suitable bearing inthe front portion of the filler base I. Although the vertical leg 5 ismaintained in fixed vertical position, downward axial motion of the leg5 is prevented by the collar 6, which is suitably keyed to the leg 5 andrests against a suitable upper bearing surface on the frame 5-, therebysupporting the leg 5.

Upward motion of the leg 5 is prevented by the collar 1 which issuitably keyed to that portion of the lower end of leg 5, which extendsthrough the associated bearing in the support I, against the end ofwhich bearing the collar 1 is snugly fitted.

A horizontally extending bracket element 8 is suitably secured, as bywelding, at one end to the filler base plate 3, and is provided at itsopposite end with the collar portion 9, telescoped over the upper end ofthe cylindrical leg mem be:- 5, The inner surface of the cellar t is ina bearing contact with the adjacent portion of the outer surface of theleg 5, thereby stabilizing the tank 4 and leg 5.

Collars It and M, respectively, are keyed to the vertical leg 5,immediately above and below the collar 9 with the surface of the collarsiii and l I which are adjacent to the surface of the collar 9 abuttingthereagainst. Collars til and H prevent any relative vertical motionbetween the collar 9 and the leg 5. To prevent any undesirable relative,radial motion between the collar 8 and the leg 5, a locking screw !2threaded through the collar 9, is adapted to engage the outer wall ofthe leg 5, so as to prevent such undesired relative rotation when theinner end of screw !2 is in engagement with shaft 5.

For the purposes of sanitation, the base I is provided with three feet!3, which are of a suitable length to support the base or frame l at aconvenient distance from. the floor of the dairy plant in which theapplicants improved bottle filler and capper may be used. Feet l3 permitready cleaning of the floor beneath the bottle filler and capper, andthe ready cleaning of the interior of the frame I.

As clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, the filler tank d islaterally disposed with respect to the front leg 5 of the filler. Thebottle turntable or receptacle support assembly hi, the bottle capper l5and turntable elevator it are rotatably supported on the front fillerleg 5.

Turntable or receptacle support assembly M, in its preferred embodiment,consists of a. flat, rectangular receptacle supporting surface H, whichis provided with a centrally positioned aperture, through which thevertical leg 5 extends. The receptacle support surface H is securelyfixed to and rests upon the receptacle support elevator 6. Thereceptacle support elevator !6 includes an internally threaded tube !8,telescoped over the cylindrical, vertical leg 5, and maintained in axialalignment therewith by the journals !9 and 2d at the upper and lowerends, respectively, of the tube is. The vertical leg or shaft 5 isprovided with a peripheral thread 2!. Thread 2! has a larger rootdiameter than the outer diameter of the leg 5, and is complementary toand engages the threads 22 in the inner face of the tube It.

A slidable hub 23, telescope-d over tube !8, is provided on its innerperiphery with a bearing 2%, lockedinto position within the hub 23 byany suitable means, as, for example, by a tongue and groove arrangement.The inner cylindrical surface of the bearing 2% is in close bearing andsliding contact with the outer surface of the tube !8-. The upper end ofthe hub 23 extends through the central opening in the receptacleturntable bottle support surface H, with the outer face of the hub 23snugly engaged in the central opening in the support If. The turntableassembly l rests upon the annular flange 25, which extends outwardlyfrom the upper portion of the outer periphery of the hub 23.

The lower portion of the hub 23 terminates in an outwardly extending,annular flange 26, which is provided on its lower face with areplaceable friction resisting disk or wear plate 2?, which is securedto the flange 26 in any suitable manner.

Formed integrally with the hub 23 are the aligned, laterally projecting,indexing bars 2%, which lie in a plane parallel to the axis of the shaftor support leg 5'.

The tube It is supported in predetermined axial position with respect tothe shaft 5 by means of the interengagenient of the screw threads 2! andAlthough the shaft 5 is fixed in position, the relative, verticalposition of the tube It on the shaft 5 may be varied by the relativerotation between the shaft 5 and the tube It, which may be accomplishedby the rotation of the shaft 5. A bracket element 28 is snuglytelescoped over and permanently secured in any suitable manner to thelower end of the tube !8 and may be supported thereon by the flange ofthe lower bearing or journal 29.

The portion of the bracket 29, which extends inwardly toward the fillertank support legs 2, is provided an aperture through which the guideshaft 30 extends. The guide shaft 39 is locked in place in the bracket29 by any suitable means, such, for example, as a set screw. The lowerend of the guide bar 3% extends into a close fitting socket in the frameI, in which socket the guide shaft 36 is freely movable in a verticalmanner. By this arrangement, the bracket 29 is prevented from rotatingupon the support shaft or leg 5.

The wear plate 2*! of the hub 23 rests upon the cams 3!, which arecarried by the rock shaft 32, suitably journaled in the ported lugs 33formed integrally with the bracket 29. The rock shaft 32 may be actuatedby means of the crank 34, formed on one end thereof. By the partialrotation of the crank 3d, with the resulting partial rotation of therock shaft 32, the cams iii are rotated about the axis of the rock shaft32., with the resultant raising or the gravity lowering of the hub 23,and the assoiated bottle support table I].

As clearly indicated in the drawings, each of the cams 3i consist of ahub portion 35, secured to the shaft 32. The wing portions 35 of cams 3!extend in both directions tangentially from the outer periphery of thehub 35. In each instance the end of the wing 36 is provided with arounded elbow portion 3?, the extreme end 38 r of which is nearer theaxis of the rock shaft 32 than the angle portion 39. When the cams 3!are oscillated with the shaft 32 in a direction to force the cam elbow39 against the plate 2'1, the hub it is elevated until the wing 36 ofthe cam 3! is in a substantially vertical position. In that position thefriction plate 2? of the hub iii rests on the slightly downwardlydirected elbow end 3? of the cam 3! beyond the angle portion 39. Thefurther rotation of the cam 3! in the mentioned direction is preventedby the abutment of the free end of the cam. wing 35 against the adjacentface of the bracket '29, thereby looking the cam 3! and the rock shaft32 in position, supporting the hub It in its uppermost verticalposition. To lower the hub l5 and the associated bottle support table i?to the lowermost position, it is necessary only to oscillate the rockshaft 32 in the opposite direction until the end 38 of the cam wing 35beyond the elbow 33 engages the adjacent face of the bracket 29, inwhich latter position the friction face 2? of the hub H5 will rest uponthe extended face of the cam wing 36.

When the hub I6 is in its lowermost position, it may be rotated througha maximum arc of approximately degrees. The rotation of the hub it inone direction is limited by the engagement of one of the indexing bars28 with the side of the guide shaft 38 positioned immediately to therear of the hub It. The rotation of the hub 6 in the opposite directionis limited by the engagement of the opposite guide bar 28 with theopposite side of the guide shaft 30.

To accurately position the turntable I l in its elevated position, theguide shaft 30 is provided at its upper end with a cross bar 46, havingat each end thereof a downwardly depending lug 4 l, spaced from theguide shaft 30 a distance approximately equal to the width of theindexing bars 28. When the hub l6 has been rotated in the desiredmanner, until a guide bar 28 abuts against the side of the guide shaft35, the crank 34 may then be partially rotated so as to turn the cam 31to elevate the turntable support hub 16. As the turntable support hub I6is elevated, the indexing bar 28 is forced into position between theguide shaft 36 and the associated depending indexing lug 4|, therebylocking the hub l6 and the associated receptacle support table 11against relative, rotary motion on the shaft 5 when in their relativeelevated positions.

. In the event that undue wear on the indexing bar 28, the shaft 30, orthe depending lugs 4| should result in improper indexing of the hub l6and the associated turntable H, the cross bar 40, Which is keyed to theshaft 30, may be rotated slightly on the shaft 30, thereby decreasingthe available spacing intermediate the shaft 33 and the depending lugs4| for receiving the indexing bars 28.

The receptacle support or turntable H is pro vided with two receptacleguide arms 42 and 43, respectively, as clearly shown in Figure 7 of thedrawings. Each of the guide arms 42 and 43 are provided at each end withlaterally extending, bottle engaging prongs, sufficient to engage fourreceptacles. The prongs are so constructed that each set of prongsadapted to engage a receptacle will engage the receptacle on at leastfour points, thereby to accurately center either a rectangular-shapedreceptacle or a circular receptacle in predetermined position on tablel. The guide bar 43 is provided at each end with laterally extendingprongs 45, arranged in opposed order to the laterally extending prongs44 on the corresponding ends of the guide bar 42. The ends of the guidebars 43 are superimposed on the ends of the guide bar 42, and each ofthe ends of the guide bars 42 and 43 are provided with aligned slots 46.One set of slots 46 registers on the guide stud 41 while the remainingset of slots 45 registers on the stud 48.

As mentioned, the ends of the guide bar 43 are superimposed on the endsof the guide bar 42 and the guide bar 43 rests upon the guide bar 42.The guide bar 42, in turn, rests upon the spacers 49, which aretelescoped over the capped guide studs 41 and 48. The lower ends of thestuds 41 and 48 pass through the receptacle support table I! andaresecured thereto in any suitable manner.

With respect to the guide stud 41, the lower endthereof is threaded, andit is secured to the table ll by means of the thumb nut 59, which, whentightened, securely locks the ends of the guide bars 43 and 42 to theguide stud 4'l', to thereby maintain them in locked position. Upon therelease of the thumb nut 55, the guide bars may be moved back and forthto the limit permitted by the inter-action of the slots 46 and theassociated guide studs 41 and 48.

To assure the uniform, complementary move ment of both of the guide bars42 and 43, there is provided an equalizer bar 5!, pivoted on thevertical shaft 5, immediately above the upper surface of the bottlesupport table ll. The ends of the equalizer bar 5| are slotted toreceive the dogs 52, which depend from the mid-portion of the bars 42and 43.

As. viewed in Figure 7 of the drawings, all of the bottle positioningprongs on the guide bar 42 are those prongs of each set of prongsfurthest removed from the reader. All of the remaining prongs are on theguide bar 43. It, therefore, becomes obvious that by moving the guidebar 43 one way or the other, all of the bottle gripping prongs 45forming a part of bar 43 will also be moved in the same direction.Equalizer bar 5|, pivoted to the shaft 5 and linked to the guide bars 42and 43 by the dogs 52, will cause the complementary movement in theopposite direction of the guide bar 42 and the associated prongs 44. Inthis manner, all of the bottle gripping prongs 44 and 45 will be movedeither toward or away from the center of the position upon which abottle is to be supported on the bottle support table ll. After asuitable adjustment in the guide bars 42 and 43 has been made, they maybe locked into the adjusted position by the tightening of the thumb nut59.

The capper assembly I5 is supported on the upper end of the capper andturntable support leg 5 by means of hub 53, which is swiveled to theupper end of the shaft 5, rests upon collar l4, and is provided adjacentthe lower end thereof with two depending, rearwardly and outwardlyextending indexing dogs 54, the lower ends of which straddle the bracket3. The swinging or oscillatory movement of the capping head I5 about anaxis coincident with the axis of the shaft 5, the axis of hub l6 and theaxis of turntable receptacle support I! is limited in either directionby the engagement of bracket 8 with one or the other of the indexingdogs 55.

The capper support arm 55 extends horizontally from the side of the hub53, opposite the spacing dogs 54, and is provided at its outermost endwith spaced arms 56, which are provided on their opposed inner faceswith opposed vertical grooves 51 to receive opposed flanges on thecapper element 58. Grooves 5'! provide vertical guideways for thevertical reciprocation of the capper 58.

The capper 58 is supported by means of linkage 59 on a capper actuatoror handle 65, which is pivoted for vertical oscillation to handlesupport brackets 3|, formed along the upper edge of the capper supportarm 55. A spring guide 52, which is pivoted to the handle 54, and whichextends downwardly through an aperture in the capper support 55, isprovided with a compression spring 63, which is telescoped over thespring guide 62. Spring 63 is compressed between a shoulder on the upperend of the spring guide 62, and the adjacent face of the capper support55, thereby maintaining the handle 56 in its uppermost position. Thelower end of the spring guide 52 is provided with a suitable lock meansadapted to engage an adjacent surface of the capper support 55, when thehandle is raised by the spring 63 to thereby limit the maximum elevationof the handle 60.

The dimensions of the capper support arm and the capper 58, are suchthat the bell 64 of the capper 58 is adapted to be moved, by theswinging of the handle 53, along an arcuate path which has the sameradius as the arcuate path along which are positioned the filling headsin the lower surface of the filler bowl 4. The bottle support positionson the filling table 1'? intermediate the opposed bottle guide fingers44 and 45 are also: each spaced along an arcuate path similarly centeredon. the shaft latter arcuate path has the same radius. as that of thearcuate path for the capper bell and the filling heads 55.

It, therefore, follows that bottles, placed on the filling table I?intermediate the bottle guide fingers M or G5, in any position ofappropriate ad-- justment thereof, will always be centered along anarcuate path spaced from the center of the vertical turntable supportaxis a distance equal to the spacing of the capper head bell 6d and thefilling nozzle 65 from the same vertical axis.

By this design expedient, it is possible to place empty bottles to befilled upon the turntable support if at any angle of rotation thereof,move them into position below the filling heads 65, rotate the crank 34until the mouth of the bottles are pressed against the associatedfilling heads 65, so as to enable the filling of liquid thereinto.Incidental to such elevation of table ii, the indexing bars 28 will bemoved into position between the guide shaft Bil and guide dogs ll,thereby indexing the table i-l.

Upon the completion of the filing of the receptac'les under the filling.head the crank is partially rotated in the opposite direction, s ficientto lower the turntable support ii to its lowermost position. In thelowered position, the support it may then be rotated through of 180degrees, to move the filled receptacles into position below the path ofmotion of the capper bell 86-. The crank 3 is then once again rotated ina direction to lift the turntable it to bring i mouth of the filledbottles into capping posit. and again to index the table t'i. With table5? again indexed, the bottles may then be capped sequence by theactuating of the capper actuator 60 after first aligning. the capperbell he with the bottle to be capped. The alignment of the capper bell Ei with the bot ac to be capped ac complished by the swinging of thecapper support arm 55 into one or the other of its extreme I .s ofhorizontal motion, which limits. are determined by the engagement of oneor the other of the dogs 54 with the bracket 8. When the capper has beenmoved into such extreme position, the bell 64 of the capper as will bein exact alignment with a receptacle held intermediate the bottle guidejaws 4d and 85 on the indexed turntable ll.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a bottle filler andcapper adapted for use in the filling of receptacles of varying height,as well as varying diameter. The manner of accomplishing the necessaryadjustment of prongs 411 and 45, to permit the handling of recep taclesof diiferent diameters or different shape, has hereinbefore beendescribed. To adjust the improved filler and capper for the handling ofbottles of varying height requires the raising or lowering of theturntable and the associated elevator hub 5E, and the guide shaft 30,all of which are supported by means of the internally threaded tube itupon the capper and turntable support 5.

As previously mentioned, collar i3 and the as sociated bracket 29,although supported directiy upon the shaft 5 by means of the internallythreaded tube It and the threaded portion of the shaft 5, are notrotatable thereon. Also, as previously mentioned, the shaft 5 isrotatable when not locked in position by the thumb screw I2 in thecollar 9 of the bracket 8. Upon the release of the thumb screw f2, theshaft 5 may be rotated in either direction, by appropriately turning thehand grip 56 at the top of the shaft 5, thereby either elevating orlowering the tube l8 upon the shaft 5 by means of the interaction of thescrew and screw threads 2! and 22. By this procedure, the elevation ofthe turntable assembly or receptacle carrier as may be adjusted to anysuch elevation as may be required for filling andcapping of bottles ofdifferent heights. When the desired elevation of the tab e H has beensecured, the shaft 5 is again locked in position to prevent furtherrotation thereof by the re-tightening of the thumb screw it in thecollar 9.

The present invention provides an improved, manually operable bottlefiller and capper, which embodies all of the design objectives andadvantages hereinbefo-re mentioned and which e. bodies the automaticindexing advantages, whereby to assure the proper alignment between thebottles to be filled and the filling heads, and the bottles to be cappedand the capping heads, when the filling and capping table is elevatedinto operative filling and capping position.

Having thus described and illustrated the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention in an improved, manually operable bottle filler andcapper, the invention is not to be restricted to the specific embodimentthereof, as illustrated in the drawings and as hereinbefore described,except insofar as may be necessary view of the disclosure of the priorart and the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A receptacle filling and capping apparatus, comprising, incombination, a support, a rotative receptacle carrier, a filling headoverhanging a receptacle supporting portion of said rotative receptaclecarrier, a capper pivoted for oscillatory movement about an axiscoincident with the extension of the axis of said rotative receptaclecarrier and movable through an arc overlying a receptacle supportportion of said receptacle carrier, depending index means on androtatable with said carrier, a stop on said support interposed in thepath of rotation of said index means to arrest the rotation of saidcarrier at a selected position, and means for arresting the oscillatorymovement of said capper at a selected position over said carriercomprising a depending projection onsaid capper adaptedto oscillatetherewith and an extension on said support in the path of oscillation ofsaid projection and engageable thereby.

2. A receptacle filling and capping apparatus comprising in combinationa support, a receptacle platform rotatably mounted on said support, acarrier disposed over said receptacle platform swiveled to said supportfor pivotal oscillatory movement about an extension of the rotative axisof said receptacle platform, a capper bracket disposed over saidreceptacle platform swiveled to said support for oscillatory movementabout an extension of the rotative axis of said receptacle platform, adepending projection on said capper bracket and a co-operating indexingextension on said support engageable thereby for arresting movement ofsaid capper bracket at a selected location over said receptacleplatform, a capper supported on said bracket and swingable therewithalong a restricted arcuate path over a portion of said receptacleplatform, receptacle filling means disposed over said receptacleplatform at a position beyond the restricted arcuate path of said.capper bracket and at substantially the 9 same radial distance from saidrotative axis as said capper, an outwardly extending indexing memberspaced axially from and adapted to rotate with said receptacle platform,and a projection on said support interposed in the rotative path of saidindexing member and adapted to be engaged thereby upon rotation of saidreceptacle platform to arrest rotation thereof at a selected position toalign a selected portion of said platform with said receptacle fillingmeans and to align another selected portion ofsaid platform with saidcapper when the capper carrier is moved to one end of its restrictedarcuate path.

3. In a receptacle filling and capping apparatus the combination of asupport, a receptacle 2 platform adapted to be elevationally adjustedand intermittently rotated on said support, a capper carrier superposedabove said receptacle platform and pivoted to said support foroscillatory movement about an extension of the rotative axis of saidreceptacle platform, a capper bracket disposed over said receptacleplatform swiveled to said support for oscillatory movement about anextension of the rotative axis of said receptacle platform, a dependingprojection on said capper bracket and a co-operating indexing extensionon said support engageable thereby for arresting movement of said capperbracket at a selected location over said receptacle platform, a capperactuator supported on said capper bracket and hinged thereto, a capperassociated with said capper bracket and capper actuator adapted to beswung therewith along a restricted arcuate path over said receptacleplatform, a receptacle filling head superposed over said receptacleplat- 5;

form beyond the restricted arcuate path of said capper, an outwardlyextending indexing member spaced axially from and adapted to rotate withsaid receptacle platform, and a projection on said support extendinginto the rotative path of said indexing member and adapted to arrestrotation of said receptacle platform at a predetermined position so asto align a selected portion thereof under said capper when the latter ispositioned at an end of its restricted arcuate path and so as to alignanother selected portion thereof under said receptacle filling head.

4. In a receptacle filling and capping apparatus the combination of asupport, a platform adapted to be intermittently rotated on saidsupport, a plurality of receptacle holders on said platform, a cappercarrier superposed above said receptacle holders and pivoted to saidsupport for oscillatory movement about an extension of the rotative axisof said platform, a capper bracket disposed over said receptacleplatform swiveled to said support for oscillatory movement about anextension of the rotative axis of said receptacle platform, a dependingprojection on said capper bracket and a co-operating indexing extensionon said support engageable thereby for arresting movement of said capperbracket at a selected location over said receptacle platform, a capperactuator supported on said capper bracket and hinged thereto, a capperassociated with said capper bracket and capper actuator adapted to beswung therewith along a restricted arcuate path over said receptacleholders, and a receptacle filling head superposed over said receptacleholders substantially diametrically opposite the restricted arcuate pathof said capper, said platform having an outwardly extending indexingmember spaced axially from and adapted to rotate with said platform, andsaid support having a projection extending into the rotative path ofsaid indexing member and adapted to arrest rotation of said platform ata predetermined position so as to align a selected receptacle holderwith said capper when the latter is positioned at an end of itsrestricted arcuate path and to align another selected receptacle holderwith said receptacle filling head. r

5. In a receptacle filling and capping apparatus the combination of asupport, a platform adapted to be intermittently rotated on saidsupport, a plurality of receptacle holders on said platform, a cappercarriersuperposed above said receptacle holders and pivoted to saidsupport for oscillatory movement about an extension of the rotative axisof said platform, a capper bracket disposed over said receptacleplatform swiveled to said support for oscillatory movement about-anextension ofthe rotative axis of said receptacle platform, a dependingprojection on said capper bracket and a co-operating indexing extensionon said support engageable thereby for arresting movement of said capperbracket at a selected location over said receptacle platform, a capperactuator supported on said capper bracket and hinged thereto, a capperassociated with said capper bracket and capper actuator adapted to beswung therewith along a restricted arcuate path over said receptacleholders, and a receptacle filling head superposed over said receptacleholders substantially diametrically opposite the restricted arcuate pathof said capper, said platform having an outwardly extending indexingmember spaced axially from and adapted to rotate with said platform, andsaid support having a projection extending into the rotative path ofsaid indexing member and adapted to arrest rotation of said platform ata predetermined position so as to align a selected receptacle holderwith said capper when the latter is positioned at an end of itsrestricted arcuate path and to align another selected receptacle holderwith said receptacle filling head, each of said receptacle holderscomprising a pair of cooperating receptacle engaging jaws, each of saidjaws being attached to a corresponding bracket on said platform, andeach of said brackets being mutually adjustable with respect tothe-other to provide a space between the respective cooperating jaws toreceive a receptacle of a predetermined size and shape.

6. In a receptacle filler and capper the combination of a capperswiveled to a capper supporting post, a capper supporting bracket, saidcapper being adapted to be oscillated in a horizontal plane about theaxis of said post for capping operations in an arc of a circleconcentric to the axis of said post, a filler tank, filling headsassociated with said tank and positioned in another arc of said circleconcentric to the axis of said post, a receptacle carrier rotatablymounted on said post at a level below that of said capper and saidfilling heads whereby a receptacle on said carrier may be moved in acircular path under said circle concentric to the axis of said post,means for vertically actuating the receptacle carrier for movement of areceptacle thereon into receptacle filling engagement with a fillinghead and for movement of a receptacle thereon into receptacle cappingposition, a depending projection on said capper bracket and acooperating indexing extension on said support engageable thereby forarresting movement of said capper bracket at a selected location oversaid receptacle carrier, an outwardly extending indexing member spacedaxially from said carrier and adapted to rotate therewith, and aprojection on said post extending into the rotative path of saidindexing member and adapted to be engaged by said indexing member ateither side of said projection so as to arrest rotation of said carrierat either of two predetermined positions, in one of which said positionsa receptacle on said carrier is aligned with a filling head and in theother of which said positions such receptacle is aligned with the capperwhen said capper is positioned at an end of its arc of oscillation.

THEODORE H. KUMMER.

RAYMOND E. BODENDOERFER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,386,299 Wright et a1. Aug. 2, 1921 10 Number Name DateStrandt June 24, 1930 Davis 1 Dec. :8, 1931 Maringer June 6, 1933Barrett Feb. 25, 1936 Lewis et a1 .Aug. 16, 11938 Namur et a1. Jan. 9,1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Apr. 25, 1931

